There’s time for this now, and that later. At least that’s what Jimmy thought…
As Jimmy quickly peered off to catch a glimpse of the bleachers, several men with straight faces sitting closely together caught his attention.
“I need to make this free throw,” he said to himself.
To nobody’s surprise, he made it, breaking Chaminade High School’s basketball record for the most points ever scored by a member of the basketball team. As a four-time varsity captain of the team, and one of America’s top prospects, scouts came to every game.
Jimmy’s father fostered his son’s love for the sport. His parents sent him to the best basketball camps, and introduced him to the most important people in the game. But Jimmy's Dad seriously encouraged him to pursue his education and not play directly into the professional league.
“Jimmy, you need to go to college. You don’t want to be a 35 year old washed up pro-basketball player, do you?”
Jimmy’s Coach, his “second” father, told him that it would be in his best interest to take up offers from the NBA.
“Jimmy, this is a lot of money we’re talking about. Scouts have been calling me ten times a day trying to encourage me to get you to play for them!”
“I just don’t know what’s right for me yet, Coach. Let me think about this alone, no pressure, no advice, ok?” said Jimmy.
“Ok, but let me know as soon as you know. Remember, you only have one week.”
With only a week until the May first deadline, and a pivotal decision to be made, Jimmy sat down by himself in his room and forced himself to make a decision. His father knocked on the door several times, but Jimmy pretended to be asleep. His father’s words resonated in his head for hours. He felt as if he was a miniscule being balancing on the rim of a basketball hoop. If he fell one way, the net would catch him, and if he fell the other, he'd plummet to his catastrophic failure. Jimmy just couldn't associate his future options with the "rim metaphor."
After nearly four hours of serious contemplation, Jimmy realized that his father was right. All of the pressure from the coaches, faculty, and teammates of Jimmy made him fed up. He decided that he’d rather own the team than play on it.
Time is our most valuable commodity.
There’s time for this now, and that later. At least that’s what Jimmy thought…As Jimmy quickly peered off to catch a glimpse of the bleachers, several men with straight faces sitting closely together caught his attention.
“I need to make this free throw,” he said to himself.
To nobody’s surprise, he made it, breaking Chaminade High School’s basketball record for the most points ever scored by a member of the basketball team. As a four-time varsity captain of the team, and one of America’s top prospects, scouts came to every game.
Jimmy’s father fostered his son’s love for the sport. His parents sent him to the best basketball camps, and introduced him to the most important people in the game. But Jimmy's Dad seriously encouraged him to pursue his education and not play directly into the professional league.
“Jimmy, you need to go to college. You don’t want to be a 35 year old washed up pro-basketball player, do you?”
Jimmy’s Coach, his “second” father, told him that it would be in his best interest to take up offers from the NBA.
“Jimmy, this is a lot of money we’re talking about. Scouts have been calling me ten times a day trying to encourage me to get you to play for them!”
“I just don’t know what’s right for me yet, Coach. Let me think about this alone, no pressure, no advice, ok?” said Jimmy.
“Ok, but let me know as soon as you know. Remember, you only have one week.”
With only a week until the May first deadline, and a pivotal decision to be made, Jimmy sat down by himself in his room and forced himself to make a decision. His father knocked on the door several times, but Jimmy pretended to be asleep. His father’s words resonated in his head for hours. He felt as if he was a miniscule being balancing on the rim of a basketball hoop. If he fell one way, the net would catch him, and if he fell the other, he'd plummet to his catastrophic failure. Jimmy just couldn't associate his future options with the "rim metaphor."
After nearly four hours of serious contemplation, Jimmy realized that his father was right. All of the pressure from the coaches, faculty, and teammates of Jimmy made him fed up. He decided that he’d rather own the team than play on it.
A.D.S.